FR2589085A1 - CENTRIFUGATION DEVICE FOR ANALYTICAL CASES - Google Patents

Abstract

CENTRIFUGATION DEVICE FOR ANALYSIS BARS OF THE TYPE INCLUDING: -A ENCLOSURE 35 CLOSED BY A COVER 2; -A ROTARY PLATE 9 AND ITS DRIVE MOTOR 13; - MEANS OF MAINTAINING 16, 17 BARRETTES 15 PLACES ON THE PERIPHERY OF THIS PLATE; -A MEANS 19, 20 TO ROTATE ON THEMSELVES THE SAID BARS 15, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE PIVOTING MEANS INCLUDES: A SET OF TWO PARALLEL DRIVE FINGERS 19 JOINT ONE OF THE OTHER, LIKELY TO BE ACTUATES IN AN ASCENDING MOVEMENT; -A PIVOTING CROWN PRESENTING AT ITS LOWER PART A PROOF IN THE FORM OF A MALTA CROSS, INTENDED TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE SAID DRIVE FINGERS 19.

Description

CENTRIFUGATION DEVICE FOR ANALYTICAL CASES

  The invention relates to a centrifugation device having an automatic pivoting system of

  boxes for analysis, and in particular analysis strips.

  In the French patent application No. 84 19719, there is described a centrifugal device composed of: - a central tray for centrifugation, this plate being provided with a diametrical groove, intended to receive a bar analysis; - A peripheral ring, coplanar and coaxial with said central plate, intended to rotate step by step, independently of the central plate, and having a plurality of radial housings for analysis bars; - A gantry overlying the said peripheral ring, allowing the passage of a bar: on the one hand, from the peripheral ring to the central plateau, and vice versa; on the other hand, from a first position to a second position, in the throat of the central plateau.

  The device further comprises a photometer analyzer.

  The disadvantage of such a device lies in the fact that it can only centrifuge one barette at a time. In addition, the device consists of three different main elements, for its operation namely: the central plate, the peripheral ring,

  30. the linear transfer gantry.

  Finally, the operation of the apparatus assumes a linear transfer of the bar, in addition to the

  centrifugation, which involves a waste of time.

  The present invention aims to greatly simplify the work of the operator while -2- optimizing the time saving, decreasing as much as possible manipulations and mechanical operating phases. It proposes a centrifugation device for analysis bars, of the type comprising: an enclosure closed by a cover; - a turntable for receiving the centrifuge bars, and its drive motor; means for holding test strips placed on the periphery of said rotary plate; means for rotating said analysis strips around their pivot axis in order to reverse the action of the force

  This is the case with the bars.

  This device is characterized in that the means for pivoting the bar comprises: a set of two parallel drive fingers, integral with each other, and capable of being actio-born in an upward movement; To a pivoting ring, secured to an axis supporting the system for holding the bar on the plate, said crown having at its lower part a projection in the shape of a Maltese cross, intended to cooperate with said fingers. training. In other words, the invention relates to a device for automatically pivoting the analysis bars on the plate around their pivot axis, by using a push button system.

upward movement.

  Advantageously, in practice: the device for holding the bar comprises a means for indexing said bar, in two possible pivoting positions situated one hundred and four to twenty degrees (180) from each other, constituted by by: a horizontal transverse projection, located under the support of the barette; a V-shaped groove for receiving said projection and formed in the rotating plate. the centrifuge device is controlled by a microcomputer so as to synchronize the different mechanical and physical phases, namely: centrifugation proper; step by step, for photometric analysis; the pivot phases

temperature regulation.

  - the actuating system of the training fingers

is an electromagnet.

  - the drive motor of the platform operates in

  continuous diet, then in step mode.

  the enclosure and the cover are made of plastic; - the number of strips that can be analyzed simultaneously

varies between one and five.

  - the two training fingers are spread

  from a distance of between two and five centimeters.

  The way in which the invention can be realized and the advantages which result therefrom will emerge more clearly from the following example, given as an indication and not

  limiting in support of the figures yearned.

  Figure 1 is a simplified overview, in

  section of the device according to the invention.

  Figure 2 is a detail view, in perspective

of the pivoting device.

  Figure 3 is a schematic representation of

  indexing system, in unlocked position.

  Figure 4 is a simplified representation of a set of five test bars in place on the

- 4 -

turntable.

  Figures 5 to 10 illustrate the mode of operation

  pivoting system on the slewing ring. According to the invention, the centrifugal device comprises a fixed frame (1), made of plastic, surmounted by a cover (2) made of the same material.The fixing of the cover (2) on the bari (1) is obtained at using a chicane (3) pers: - thus a waterproofness to the light (obligatory

  photometric measurements), and an A iPair seal.

  The temperature regulation is provided by a fan (4) and a heating resistor (5). The hot air is sent via the duct (6) to the turntable (9). A probe (7), connected to the device regulation ensures a constant temperature

  tenth of a degree centigrade.

  The centrifuge (8) consists of the plate (9) surmounting an axis of rotation (10), resting on a rolling bearing (11), and connected via

  an elastic coupling (12) to a motor (13).

  A magnetic device (14) for detecting

  positioning of the plate (9) is also provided.

  The analysis bars (15) are fixed by a male clipping system (16) on the support (17) of the bar (15), said support has two lugs (18), fixed on its upper face, and which plays a dual role, namely: - lift the plugs of the bar to allow during the centrifugation, the flow of liquids or reagents:

- training of pivoting.

  The pivot device of the bars (15) characteristic of the invention comprises two driving fingers (19a, 19b), parallel and integral with each other, and spaced apart by a distance of three centimeters. When actuated, they are pushed by an electromagnet (20) towards the pivoting ring (21), thus causing their cooperation with the projection (22) cross Maltese. Their path is guided by two cylindrical orifices made within a frame (30), itself fixed in (31) and (32) to the frame (33) which supports the turntable (9).

  the axis of rotation (10) and the elastic coupling (12).

  Similarly the electromagnet is attached to said frame (30).

  In fact, when the drive fingers (19) are not stressed, an elastic leaf spring (23)

  push down the pivoting ring (21).

  When the driving fingers (19) are actuated, the plate (9) rotates at a reduced speed, according to the arrow A, during a revolution so that all the bars present on the plate (9) are rotated around their pivot axis. For each bar (15), when the first fixed drive finger (19a) comes into contact with one of the branches of

  the Maltese cross protrusion of the swivel crown

  (21), this causes a rotation of eighty

  ten degrees (90) of the bar (15).

  The preceding branch of the said projection of the pivoting ring (21) then comes into contact with the second fixed drive finger (19b), thus causing, as the plate (9) always rotates, a new rotation of four twenty ten degrees (90) of the bar about its pivot axis, o a total rotation of one hundred and four

  twenty degrees (180), (see Figures 5 to 10).

  He. It should be noted that during the pivoting phase, when the driving fingers (19) are actuated, and that they cause the pivoting ring (21), they cause the displacement of the projection (28) of the - 6 support (17) from the V-shaped groove (29), that the support (17) rotates, and when the two rotations of ninety degrees are performed, the projection (28) returns to position in the throat (29) (See Figure 3). The different mechanical parts are controlled by a microcomputer, not shown, which plays the role of coordinator and synchronizer of the different steps. During an analysis of a liquid sample, by means of an analysis bar and the device described above, after having clipped the bar (15) on the support (17) by means of the clipping system (16). ), the plate rotates for a certain period of time at a moderate speed, allowing the temperature rise of

  the enclosure. Then, we proceed to a phase of

  fugation.On returns to a slow speed during one turn to allow the phase of pivoting of the bars on themselves.After a new phase of centrifugation, the bars are shaken by a reciprocating movement of a quarter turn of the plate. After a new phase of pivoting, then centrifugation, it goes into step mode, so as to scroll the measuring cells in front of the integrated photometer. This consists of an optical filament (23) located in the intermediate housing (24), under the passage of the bar (15), and a receiving cell (25) located above the optical filament (23). ), in the upper building (26)

above the barette (15).

  Different advantages emerge from the present invention, namely: a simple and compact device; - no linear transfer of bars possibility to analyze several

strips.

- 7

Claims (8)

  1 / Centrifugation device for test strips   lyses of the type comprising: - an enclosure (35) closed by a lid (2); - a turntable (9) and its drive motor (13) - holding means (16,17) of the bars (15), placed on the periphery of this plate;   - means (19,20) for pivoting on them   even said bars (15), about their pivot axis; characterized in that the pivoting means comprises:   a set of two parallel training fingers   leles (19a, 19b) integral with each other, capable of being actuated in an upward movement; a pivoting ring (21) on which rests an axis (27) supporting the holding means (16,17) of the bar <15) on the plate (9), said crown having at its lower part a protrusion (22) ) in the form of a Maltese cross intended to come into contact   with said driving fingers (19a, 19b).   2 / Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it has an indexing means (28,29) of the barette (15), in two possible pivoting positions   located at one hundred eighty degrees (1800) one of the   be, comprising a horizontal transverse projection (28)   tale fixed under the holding system (16,17) of the barette (15), and a V-shaped groove (29) for receiving said projection (28), and arranged within the turntable (9).   3 / Apparatus according to one of claims 1 and 2   characterized in that the centrifugation device   is controlled by a microcomputer. -8-   4 / Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized in that the actuating system of the driving fingers (19a, 19b) is an electromagnet (20).   5 / Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4,   characterized in that the drive motor (13) of the plate (9) operates in continuous mode then in step mode   6 / Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 5   characterized in that the enclosure (35) and the lid   (2) are made of plastics material.   7 / Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that the number of bars (15)   analyzable simultaneously varies from one to five.   8 / Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 7,   characterized in that the drive fingers (19a and 19b) are spaced apart by a distance of between five centimeters.